DMS Chapter 258

The next day, Flinx returned to the Adventurer Guild to complete the final phase of his ranking-up examination. This phase required him to delve into an approved floor of a high-level dungeon while being accompanied by three Diamond-rank adventurers, who would assess his dungeon-clearing capabilities.

The problem was that when he arrived at Abericht's office, he discovered that the people who would be accompanying him into the dungeon were Gremendor, Ruchamon, Semanor, and Abericht himself.

He knew that the two powerful Platinum-rank spellcasters, the wizard and the cleric, simply wanted to see more of his spell-casting abilities.

Semanor and Abericht appeared worried. Demonstrating his abilities to others essentially meant revealing his potential weaknesses. However, the truth was that it did not matter much to Flinx.

He knew for a fact that, at his current level, he was still far from reaching his peak.

When he told them that he did not mind Gremendor and Ruchamon joining them, Semanor and Abericht looked relieved.

Flinx was simply glad that they would be delving into the fiftieth floor of the Dungeon of Mara. He knew that floor intimately, having spent months delving into it as many as five times a day, seven days a week. He also knew that the guild was aware of his activities, since he had never kept his dungeon delving a secret.

Even though he could teleport directly into the dungeon, he chose not to do so. Instead, he paid the entrance fees and taxes honestly.

Flinx knew that this was one of the reasons both the Adventurer Guild and the city of Ilioven looked upon him favorably. He never used his strength to gain an unfair advantage.

In truth, Flinx's behavior in the city had been exemplary. He had not caused a single problem, despite possessing enough strength to get away with murder.

Once the two Platinum-rank adventurers received confirmation from Abericht that Flinx had agreed to let them join the final phase of his examination, Gremendor teleported everyone to the fiftieth floor of the Dungeon of Mara.

Flinx summoned a couple of wind elementals using his most powerful spell slot and cast every buff available to him. When he began flying, Gremendor retrieved a flying carpet from somewhere and used it to follow him, while the others joined the platinum-rank wizard aboard the magical item.

The moment they encountered the first group of dungeon monsters, Flinx immediately cast the ninth-level Evocation spell, Meteor Swarm. Blazing orbs of fire plummeted toward the monsters from four different points.

The spell annihilated the monsters instantly. The wind elementals, which were supposed to hunt down any survivors, did not have to kill anything. Their only task was to retrieve the mana stones left behind.

His audience was surprised when Flinx cast the seventh-level Evocation spell Crown of Stars. The spell illuminated all the mana stones scattered across the ground among the remains of the dungeon monsters.

Apparently, it was not widely known that the light produced by magic spells could illuminate mana stones.

Over the next few minutes, Flinx needed only a single spell to destroy each group of dungeon monsters they encountered. This was understandable, considering that all the spells he had cast were high-level spells.

What left the watching adventurers completely stunned, however, was the fact that Flinx cast every spell instantaneously.

When the fire dragon, the boss of the floor, was killed by his ninth-level Evocation spell Ravenous Void, Flinx knew that his audience recognized the spell. It was the same one that had defeated Orlando, the Platinum-rank warrior who had tested his combat abilities.

After his wind elementals retrieved the mana stones and the magical item dropped by the boss, Gremendor teleported everyone back to Abericht's office.

Everyone congratulated Flinx on becoming the newest Platinum-rank adventurer in Ilioven.

Afterward, Gremendor, Ruchamon, and Semanor left, leaving Abericht to explain what would happen next.

The old wizard informed Flinx that the guild would make a city-wide announcement about his promotion. He would also have to attend a celebration at the castle.

That would be when he received his noble title, along with details about the land and castle he would be awarded for attaining Platinum rank and receiving his noble title.

Since preparing for the event would take some time, the guild would send a message to his home once the exact date of the celebration had been determined. According to Abericht, it would most likely take place in a month.

Flinx was simply glad that he would not have to do anything else and would only need to attend the event.

Abericht did inform Flinx that he would probably need to hire more than one secretary to ensure that he remained informed about his responsibilities as a Baron.

"If you don't have anyone with the experience to serve as your secretaries, I can have someone send you a list of names," Abericht said.

"Could you send them to Olivia instead? I think it would be best if she handled the hiring process, since she's more experienced with this sort of thing," Flinx replied.

Abericht said that he would, indicating that the old wizard knew who Olivia was.

Afterward, Abericht handed Flinx a manual, explaining that it contained sensitive information that should not be seen by anyone else.

The booklet detailed the hidden and unspoken benefits and responsibilities of Platinum-rank adventurers, as well as those of a noble of the land, even one holding the lowest noble rank.

"Even though the title of Baron is the lowest rank in the noble hierarchy, no one would look down on you, not even the most powerful nobles. As a Platinum-rank adventurer, you're already considered a one-man army. To be honest, based on what I've seen, your abilities as a spellcaster surpass those of most Platinum-rank adventurers I've encountered," Abericht said.

After finishing his discussion with Abericht, Flinx went to Olivia's shop to inform her about what would happen next.

When he arrived, he saw that Olivia was entertaining a couple of wealthy-looking matrons. He signaled that he needed to speak with her, then immediately went to the second floor.

After waiting for a few minutes, Olivia arrived and sat in the chair beside him.

"I've completed the ranking-up examination, and I'm now considered a Platinum-rank adventurer. I'll also receive the title of Baron during the celebration for my promotion," Flinx told Olivia.

Her jaw dropped in surprise.

Flinx had assumed that Olivia already knew about the ranking-up examination he was undergoing. He had never kept it a secret and had even shared the information with everyone during their meeting.

Apparently, no one had informed him that she was unaware of it.

More than likely, they had not deliberately kept it a secret. Everyone probably thought there was no need to discuss something that the others already knew about.

Flinx apologized to Olivia.

"I thought you already knew that I was in the middle of my ranking-up examination. I should have told you myself. Please share the news with everyone in the compound. I think the celebration will take place in a month. I'll invite you once I know whether I'm allowed to bring guests," Flinx said.

He then continued.

"The reason I'm telling you now is that I'm supposed to hire a couple of secretaries to manage my responsibilities as a noble of the land. Since I don't know anything about this, I'd like you to handle the hiring process. The guild will send you a list of names, or possibly information about people who want to apply for the positions. Please look into them for me," Flinx requested.

Flinx noticed that Olivia still had not adjusted to the fact that she would now be working for a confirmed Baron of the land.

Although a Baron held the lowest noble rank, the title still belonged to the high nobility, unlike the many semi-nobles scattered throughout the city.

Even Olivia's father, who was the son of a Squire, was considered a semi-noble.